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Winchelsea Land System

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Basaltic plains north of the Barwon River are typical of those found in much of western Victoria. These plains are relatively featureless, although there are occasional outcrops of basalt in the form of stony rises or scarps.

The soils are duplex with heavy clay subsoils. Permeability is very low and waterlogging occurs during the wetter months. Gilgais are a feature of the landscape.

Grazing of sheet and beef cattle is the main land use, and there is some cereal and oilseed cropping. The climate is relatively dry, but suitable for agriculture, and improved pastures have normally been established. Soil salting occurs in many parts of the landscape, particularly close to the Barwon River.		A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - winchelsea

A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - winchelsea
These flat basalt plains contain very few remnants of the
organic native vegetation.
A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - winchelsea


Area: 80 km2
Component and its proportion of land system
1
15%
2
75%
3
10%
CLIMATE
Rainfall, mm

Annual: 550 – 600, lowest January (25), highest August (60)
Temperature, 0oC
Annual: 13, lowest July (8), highest February (19)
Temperature: less than 10oC (av.) June – August
Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration late September – April
GEOLOGY
Age, lithology

Pleistocene basalt
TOPOGRAPHY
Landscape

Flat to gently undulating plain abutting the north side of the Barwon River
Elevation, m
110 – 150
Local relief, m
15
Drainage pattern
Dendritic
Drainage density, km/km2
0.2
Land form
Plain
Land form element
Flat southern lower areas
Most flat or undulating slope
Rise
Slope (and range), %
0 (0-1)
1 (0-3)
2 (0-4)
Slope shape
Linear
Linear
Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION
Structure

Open woodland

Possibly open woodland

Possibly open woodland
Dominant species
E. camaldulensis
E. camaldulensis
E. camaldulensis
SOIL
Parent material

In-situ deeply weathered basalt; some alluvium

In-site deeply weathered basalt

Basalt
Description
Grey calcareous sodic duplex soils, coarse structure
Grey calcareous sodic duplex soils, coarse structure
Black calcareous clay soils, uniform texture
Surface texture
Sandy loam
Clay loam
Clay
Permeability
Very low
Very low
Very low
Depth, m
1.8
1.2
0.7
LAND USE
Cleared areas: Sheep and beef cattle grazing; cropping
SOIL DETERIORATION HAZARD
Critical land features, processes, forms
Soils of low permeability are prone to waterlogging and to salting where high water tables occur.
Soils of low permeability are prone to waterlogging and to salting where high water tables occur.
Minor hazards
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